Vessels for slave trade
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, whether as master, factor, or owner, builds, fits out, equips, loads, or otherwise prepares or sends away any vessel, in any port or place within the United States, or causes such vessel to sail from any such port or place, for the purpose of procuring any person from any foreign kingdom or country to be transported and held, sold, or otherwise disposed of as a slave, or held to service or labor, shall be or imprisoned not more than seven years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 772 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime for a ship's master, agent, or owner to build, equip, load, or send a ship from a U.S. port to bring people from another country to be held, sold, or forced to work as slaves.